To honor their maintenance man of more than 30 years, Dave Geraghty, who died Sept. 16, the faculty of Sacred Heart of Mary School, Dundalk, created the “Mr. Dave Project.”
“Mr. Dave was a fixture here at the school and parish,” wrote Pamela Walters, principal, in an e-mail to The Catholic Review. “Besides keeping our school safe and clean, Mr. Dave made sure he took care of students, teachers, and parents in ways that we have only found out since his passing.”
She said that during the annual book fair, teachers made a wish list of books they’d like for their classrooms, and parents and students helped in fulfilling wishes.
She said that Mr. Geraghty, who was “of limited means,” purchased books for teachers to ensure their classrooms were stocked.
Students have now challenged themselves to purchase new books for the Mr. Dave Project at this year’s Oct. 14-17 book fair, with a goal to buy more than 100 books for the school library. Books bought in Mr. Geraghty’s honor will be specially labeled with students’ names.
It is Ms. Walters’ great hope, she said, for the school’s countless alumni to learn about the project, “and to know about the great things Mr. Dave did, so silently and humbly.”